Invitation for Research Proposals
Bragato Research Institute (BRI) is pleased to open its 2026 contestable funding round, inviting researchers and industry partners to submit proposals that will deliver meaningful benefits to the New Zealand wine industry.
This year’s call focuses on projects aligned with the Research Strategy priority outcomes identified by industry, ensuring investment is targeted toward areas of greatest strategic value and future impact.
Through this process, BRI aims to support high‑quality, impactful research that strengthens viticulture and winemaking capability across the sector.
Proposals should align with the Research Strategy priority outcomes
The Research Strategy was co-developed with industry and designed to maximise the value of members’ levy contributions. The strategy sets out priority areas where research can deliver the greatest impact. Successful applications for contestable funding should align with at least one of the seven priority outcomes.
Improved grape and wine circularity
Research that adds value to winery and/or vineyard waste streams through the reduction of waste and/or the creation of secondary products. Research supporting the ‘Roadmap to Net Zero’, e.g. reduction of carbon footprint or the development of new and improved sustainable packaging solutions.
Advance vineyard efficiency and agritech adoption
Developing innovative growing systems to improve vineyard productivity and profitability while maintaining or improving wine quality. Where there is still a research knowledge gap to address, this could mean trialling, testing, and validating new technology and machinery (start-ups or new to wine) to improve vineyard management effectiveness and efficiency.
New innovative wine products
Research that aims to provide winemakers with new winemaking additives, innovative techniques and/or new technology that will improve wine quality and/or winery productivity, while retaining wine quality through to the consumer. This could encompass research that supports the development of new product streams, such as NOLO and DRV, or transport and shipment improvements.
Reducing chemical inputs and adoption of biological control solutions
Research that allows winegrowers to achieve sustainability targets by reducing spray applications, while maintaining productivity and quality. This includes vines with enhanced pathogen tolerance, targeted and sustainable novel technologies, systems and models for more efficient disease management, and biological control solutions.
Improved vine productivity and grape quality
Research that ensures New Zealand vineyards are highly productive and efficient, while maintaining premium grape quality. This includes efforts to reduce seasonal variation or disassociate relationships between vineyard yield and wine quality, as well as efforts to improve vineyard longevity.
Enhanced plant genetic resilience against environmental challenges
Research that will provide growers with premium vines that are inherently better suited to anticipated environmental challenges. Specifically, this includes increased disease and frost resistance, improved water use efficiency, and the ability to express iconic typicity under future climate conditions. It also includes reduced susceptibility to known biosecurity threats not currently endemic to New Zealand.
Improved soil health and protecting water quality and supply
Research that delivers management tools to help improve soil organic matter, fertility, water holding capacity and biodiversity. Research that identifies techniques to manage water use more effectively in vineyards and wineries while protecting existing water resources and quality.
Funding pool
The funding for the proposals comes from the New Zealand Winegrowers’ levy. There is approximately $300K total available for this contestable funding round and BRI anticipates funding multiple projects.
Funding for successful applicants will be available from 01 July 2026.
Scope
Projects can be co-funded or collaborations between several organisations.
We encourage applicants to submit research proposals that can be completed within a one- to two-year timeframe and are likely to provide benefits to the industry in the short term.
Who can apply
Researchers from Universities, PROs, independent researchers or consultants, industry technical staff from viticulture or winery teams, growers. If you have a great idea but need some support, please reach out to the BRI team via info@bri.co.nz.
Each successful project will require a BRI liaison who will manage the project (and may or may not be a collaborator on the project). You will need to identify this person for the application process, so please reach out for their feedback and input early on. Please see a list of BRI liaisons below.
Application Process
This year, the submission process will run in two phases to provide applicants with a more streamlined experience.
Submissions open on Wednesday 04 March 2026 and close at 5pm Wednesday 25 March 2026.
Round 1
An initial proposal application of high-level information, focusing on strategic alignment, science merit and research outcomes. The criteria are available below. These proposals will be reviewed by the BRI Leadership Team to create a shortlist.
Round 2
Shortlisted applications will be contacted in early April for further information focused on areas such as project deliverables, IP and phased budgets. The shortlisted proposals will be asked to attend a Q&A with the Research & Innovation Committee on 29 April (in person or online).
The final funding decision will be made at the BRI Board meeting on 09 June. Feedback will be provided to successful applicants on 10 June, unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback by the end of June 2026.
If you would like to submit an application for contestable funding, please fill out the form via the button below.
A hard copy application form is available here for drafting applications, however, final applications will only be accepted through the application portal above.
We encourage members who wish to discuss a project idea or issue they would like to address to email info@bri.co.nz.
Phase 1 assessment criteria
Contestable funding applications will be assessed using a standardised scoring system on five aspects:
Strategic Alignment: Project addresses one or more of the Priority Outcomes
- Does the proposal fill a knowledge or information gap, and how important is that gap
- The work addresses distinctly New Zealand winegrowing or winemaking challenges
Science Merit / Methodology: Proposal demonstrates sound scientific design and methods
- Trial design, controls, types of replicates, rigour of methodology
- Use of innovative approaches or techniques
- Whether the work brings knowledge from around the world for the benefit of the New Zealand wine industry
Delivery: Will the science merit and methodology deliver the proposed outputs?
- Likelihood of delivering on the project objectives
- Risks of non-delivery
Pathway to adoption: Adoption of the research is feasible, and barriers are known
- Whether the project addresses a change to current, adjacent or transformational practice
- Barriers to adoption of new knowledge or technology
- Whether there are plans to overcome / mitigate potential barriers
Realising impact: Clear connection between the project outputs and outcomes for industry
- Likelihood the project will deliver the proposed outputs and outcomes
- How soon the project will deliver tangible benefit for members
BRI Liaison list
Each successful project will require a BRI liaison who will manage the project (and may or may not be a collaborator on the project). You will need to identify this person for the application process from the list below, so please reach out and let them know what you are intending to submit and get their feedback and input early on. These BRI staff members are available for the liaison roles:
Ross Wise MW: viticulture, agritech and wine projects – ross.wise@bri.co.nz
Dr Darrell Lizamore: grapevine improvement – darrell.lizamore@bri.co.nz
Dr Annabel Whibley: bioinformatician – annabel.whibley@bri.co.nz
Dr Seth Laurenson: sustainability, soil and water – seth.laurenson@bri.co.nz
